Hospitality Announce Merge Records Debut

Since 2007, New York-based Hospitality has grown from a bedroom pop experiment to a full-fledged band, and the outfit are ready to let us in on the evolution via their upcoming self-titled debut.

A press release from label Merge Records, who will issue the band's first full-length on January 31, heralds the band's "angular, intricate, and intelligent compositions," which signal "a sophisticated new pop voice," namely that of leader Amber Papini. According to Merge, her "idiosyncratic songwriting and incisive lyrics coupled with the band's rich arrangements on their self-titled debut explore youth, New York, and the bittersweet commingling of past and present in a way that feels just right, right now."

Hospitality showcases her skills via the swingin', horn-indebted indie jangle of "Friends of Friends," which you can stream below. Lyrically, songs like "Betty Wang" dish on financial day jobs, while centrepiece "Julie" was based on Papini's great-grandfather's life as a Pennsylvania coal miner.

Though reprising songs off the troupe's self-released 2008 EP, the glitzy new record, recorded by Shane Stoneback (Vampire Weekend, Sleigh Bells) and band member Nathan Michel (guitar, drums, keyboards), moves the band "from four-track low-fidelity to a luxury five-star future."

You can see the album cover above and the tracklist below.

In support of the new record, Hospitality will be playing a couple of shows with new labelmates Wild Flag, Eleanor Friedberger and the Rosebuds. Regrettably, none of the dates are in Canada, but you can still check out the schedule below.